Edward j



(No Model.)

B. JLRAWSON.

FOLDING TABLE.

Patented July 12,1881.

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ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. RAWSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND SAMUEL MCP. J ANNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,306, dated July 12, 1881. Application filed February 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD JOY RAWSON, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding Table, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a new and improved folding table which can be raised to form an inclined book-rest, and can be placed upon a bed or sofa in such a manner that a person lying on his back can reach the articles on the table very conveniently.

The invention consists in a table provided with pivoted legs at two opposite ends, with a drawer and with a hinged top plate, which can be held at any desired inclination by means of a frame pivoted to its under side and catchin g on ratchet-bars, in which plate a projecting book-supportingrail provided with adjustable fingers is pivoted in such manner that when the table-leafor top plate is not inclined this booksupporting rail will be flush with the upper surface of the top plate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a cross-sectional elevation of my improved folding table for invalids, showing the top plate inclined to form a reading-desk. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of the same, showing it folded. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the book-supporting rail, showing it pivoted to the top plate.

Similar letters of refereme indicate corresponding parts.

The table A has two connected legs, B B, hinged to the lower ends of the end pieces, 0 O, in such a manner that the legs will swing under the table, but can he held vertical to the same by means of a button, D, pivoted to the inner side of each end piece, W.

When folded the legs are held under the table by the pivoted catches E E, which hold the ends of the legs, as shown in Fig. 2. The table is provided with a drawer, F, having a knob, G, and a suitable catch, H. Above this drawer one or more transverse ratchet-bars, J, with the teeth on the upper side, are fastened to the upper part of the frame of the table. The top plate, K, of the table is hinged to one of the longitudinal rails of the table-frame, as shown in Fig. 1.

A frame, L, which in this case is made of bent wire, is pivoted or hinged to the under side of the top plate, K, and as the outer edge of this frame L catches in the teeth of the ratchet-bars J the top plate, K, can be held at any desired inclination by resting the lower cross-pieces of the frame L against a tooth a greater or less distance from the hinged edge of the plate K.

A strip or rail, M, is pivoted in a longitudinal slot in the top plate, K, of the table in such a manner that one longitudinal edge of this rail M will always be flush either with the inner or outer surface of the top plate, K. To the opposite edge of this rail M two spring-fingers, N N, are pivoted.

The operation is as follows: If the table is to be used, the catches E are first rotated to release the legs B, which swing outward and are held in position by the buttons D. The legs rest on the bed, the table extending across the same above the legs or body of the person on the bed or couch. It the invalid wishes to read, the top plate, K, is raised and inclined, and held in this position by the pivoted frame L; but before raising the top plate the strip M is rotated on its pivot, so that it will project from the upper side of the top plate. The book is placed on this strip and the leaves are held by the spring-fingers N N.

When the top plate, K, is not raised the strip M projects from the under side of the top plate, and the edge of the strip M opposite to the one to which the fingers are pivoted will be flush with. the upper surface of the top plate.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent- A folding table having the outwardly-swinging legs B B, the hinged top plate, K, with the frame L pivoted on the under side, the ratchetbars J, the rail M, pivoted in a longitudinal slot and flush with the surface of plate K when not in use, and the spring-fingers N, arranged on the edge of said rail, as and for the purpose specified.

ED WARD J. RAWSON. 

